"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV)
Caleb was a man who knew God had a plan for his life. And, it was a good plan. A plan to prosper him! Now, therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim (GIANTS) were there, and that the cities were great and fortified... (Joshua 14:12 NKJV) But, on that day, the day God revealed his plan, humanity also started talking.
Have you ever experienced THAT DAY?
You know, "that day," when God was speaking so clearly but so was the enemy...
Heaven speaking on one side but humanity rebutting it on the other side. Maybe it was coming from a loved one, a friend, a well-meaning prayer partner, or your worst critic; but, you were hearing the plan of God and all others could hear and relay was the plot of the enemy. God was revealing that he had good things for you, yet the enemy was trumpteting through choruses of negativity, "The giants are too big! The enemy is too organized! We can't! We shouldn't! You can't! You shouldn't!"
You can relate to Caleb.
You can also probably relate to David. God telling you he desires to use you to kill giants, but others telling you the enemy will use the giant to kill you! You can relate to Joseph. God giving you dreams to celebrate. Others telling you, the manifestation of your dreams they will never tolerate. You can relate to Paul. Jesus telling you he will save you. Others telling you, you've done too much wrong to ever be called by God. But, you can also further relate to Paul, because you know, if you have surrendered to Jesus' invitation, "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Rom 5:20) What we learn from Caleb, David, Joseph, and Paul about how to handle "that day" -- the ultimate takeaway from their experiences and examples:
Give more attention to the PLAN of God
than you give to the PLOT of the enemy.
Caleb said as much on his way up the mountain, "I will drive them (the giants) out of this land, just as the Lord said!" (Ref. Joshua 14:12)
Climb your mountain, Caleb!
Onward and upward!